New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York v. Domingo Gonzales
April 5, 199075 N.Y.2d 938
Summary
The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the Appellate Division's order admitting the defendant's spontaneous admission at arraignment, holding that the statement was voluntary and not the product of inducement. The Court relied on prior precedent defining the spontaneous utterance exception and concluded the interpreter's permission did not violate the right to counsel. Justice Bellacosa dissented, arguing the admission should be suppressed. The dissent is summarized at the end of this summary.